"Xiang de yi zhang" is a commonly used commendatory idiom, meaning that when two people or two things work in coordination with each other, their respective abilities, strengths, or effects are more fully displayed, thereby achieving a better overall result. In it, "xiang de" means to coordinate with each other and fit well together; "yi zhang" means to become more obvious and more prominent. This idiom comes from the "Biography of Boyi and Shuqi" in the Records of the Grand Historian, where the original text contains the phrase "xiang de yi zhang," and later generations have continued to use it to this day. It is often used to describe cooperation, pairing, and complementary relationships, such as team collaboration, artistic pairing, and the combination of civil and martial qualities. In emotional coloring, it carries a clear sense of praise and affirmation, emphasizing a synergistic effect of "1+1>2." When used, it can serve as a predicate or attributive, carries a commendatory meaning, and is mostly used in formal or written contexts, though it can also be used in everyday expression.
📝 Example
1. These two designers—one excelling in color, the other in structure—complement each other perfectly when they collaborate, and their works have won numerous awards. (They cooperate in a way that makes each other's strengths stand out even more.)
2. In classical Chinese gardens, rockeries and flowing water bring out the best in each other, creating a serene and profound artistic atmosphere. (They set each other off beautifully, making each one's aesthetic appeal even more striking.)